Adults with dyslexia: how can they achieve academic success despite impairments in basic reading and writing abilities? The role of text structure sensitivity as a compensatory skill.

The aim of this study was to investigate (1) whether a sample of highly educated individuals with dyslexia living under optimal personal, educational, cultural, and socioeconomic conditions continues to display core deficits in reading and writing skills during adulthood (extending prior results in Dutch, English, Hebrew, and Spanish to the Portuguese writing system); (2) whether these individuals can compensate for the effects of persistent core deficits when reading complex academic texts; (3) which cognitive resources, such as reading strategies, are used as compensatory mechanisms; and (4) whether quality of life is affected in these individuals. These questions were examined in a sample of 28 adults with dyslexia (DG) and 28 control participants (CG) paired by sex, age, education, and occupation, with a mean of 15 years of formal education. Participants completed measures of phonological awareness; decoding of syllables, words, and pseudowords; writing; reading comprehension (inferential and literal questions, recall, and sensitivity to the rhetorical structure of the target text); and quality of life. Results showed that (1) core deficits associated with dyslexia persisted into adulthood: participants with dyslexia performed worse than control subjects at all levels of phonological awareness, reading (except word reading accuracy), and spelling; (2) the groups did not differ on any measures of reading comprehension, suggesting a compensation of core deficits; (3) three compensatory mechanisms were identified: slower reading, use of text structure, and verbal ability; (4) participants with dyslexia required more family support and professional help throughout their educational careers, and had more depressive symptoms than control subjects.

Influence of age and education on the processing of clustering and switching in verbal fluency tasks.

Verbal fluency (VF) is a widely used tool in neuropsychological assessment. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the influence of age and educational level on clustering and switching in three VF modalities: phonemic (PVF), semantic (SVF) and unconstrained (UVF). We evaluated type of cluster, mean cluster size, and quantity of clusters, intersections, and returns. A total of 260 healthy subjects were assessed. METHODS: Participants were divided into three age groups: young adults (18 to 39 years), middle-aged adults (40 to 59 years) and older adults (60 to 80 years) and into two groups of educational level: 1-8 years (low), 9 years or more (high). A two-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of age and educational level and its interactions. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to verify the performance during the task. RESULTS: A main effect of age was detected on the UVF and SVF scores for total switches, taxonomic clusters, and for the total semantic clusters on the SVF. There was a greater effect of educational level on total switches (UVF, PFV and SVF), taxonomic clusters (UVF and SVF), thematic clusters and total semantic cluster (UVF), phonemic and mixed clusters (PVF), mean cluster size (UVF and SVF) and intersections (SVF). Educational level had a greater effect on all three VF tasks.

Fluência verbal (FV) são ferramentas amplamente utilizadas na avaliação neuropsicológica. OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo foi investigar a influência da idade e do nível de escolaridade no agrupamento e alternância em três modalidades de fluência verbal: fonêmica (FVF), semântica (FVS) e livre (FVL). MÉTODOS: Avaliamos o tipo, tamanho médio e quantidade de agrupamentos, alternâncias, intersecções e retornos. Foram divididos 260 indivíduos, em três grupos etários: jovens adultos (18 a 39 anos), adultos de idade intermediária (40 a 59 anos) e idosos (60 a 80 anos) e dois grupos de escolaridade 1-8 (baixa), 9 ou mais (alto). Uma análise ANOVA de dois fatores foi conduzida para analisar o efeito da idade e do nível educacional e suas interações, além de uma ANOVA de medidas repetidas para verificar o desempenho ao longo da tarefa. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se efeito principal da idade nas tarefas de FVL e FVS nos seguintes escores: total de alternâncias, agrupamento taxonômicos e no total de agrupamentos semânticos na FVS. Houve um efeito principal do nível educacional no total de alternâncias (FVL, FVF e FVS), agrupamento taxonômicos (FVL e FVS), agrupamento temáticos e cluster semântico total (FVL), clusters fonêmicos e mistos (FVF), tamanho médio de cluster (FVL e FVS) e, finalmente, interseções (FVS). O nível educacional teve efeito maior nas três tarefas de FV.

Influence of age and education on the processing of clustering and switching in verbal fluency tasks / Influência da idade e da escolaridade nos processos de agrupamento e alternância em tarefas de fluência verbal

ABSTRACT Verbal fluency (VF) is a widely used tool in neuropsychological assessment. Objective: We aimed to investigate the influence of age and educational level on clustering and switching in three VF modalities: phonemic (PVF), semantic (SVF) and unconstrained (UVF). We evaluated type of cluster, mean cluster size, and quantity of clusters, intersections, and returns. A total of 260 healthy subjects were assessed. Methods: Participants were divided into three age groups: young adults (18 to 39 years), middle-aged adults (40 to 59 years) and older adults (60 to 80 years) and into two groups of educational level: 1-8 years (low), 9 years or more (high). A two-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of age and educational level and its interactions. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to verify the performance during the task. Results: A main effect of age was detected on the UVF and SVF scores for total switches, taxonomic clusters, and for the total semantic clusters on the SVF. There was a greater effect of educational level on total switches (UVF, PFV and SVF), taxonomic clusters (UVF and SVF), thematic clusters and total semantic cluster (UVF), phonemic and mixed clusters (PVF), mean cluster size (UVF and SVF) and intersections (SVF). Educational level had a greater effect on all three VF tasks.

RESUMO Fluência verbal (FV) são ferramentas amplamente utilizadas na avaliação neuropsicológica. Objetivo: Nosso objetivo foi investigar a influência da idade e do nível de escolaridade no agrupamento e alternância em três modalidades de fluência verbal: fonêmica (FVF), semântica (FVS) e livre (FVL). Métodos: Avaliamos o tipo, tamanho médio e quantidade de agrupamentos, alternâncias, intersecções e retornos. Foram divididos 260 indivíduos, em três grupos etários: jovens adultos (18 a 39 anos), adultos de idade intermediária (40 a 59 anos) e idosos (60 a 80 anos) e dois grupos de escolaridade 1-8 (baixa), 9 ou mais (alto). Uma análise ANOVA de dois fatores foi conduzida para analisar o efeito da idade e do nível educacional e suas interações, além de uma ANOVA de medidas repetidas para verificar o desempenho ao longo da tarefa. Resultados: Encontrou-se efeito principal da idade nas tarefas de FVL e FVS nos seguintes escores: total de alternâncias, agrupamento taxonômicos e no total de agrupamentos semânticos na FVS. Houve um efeito principal do nível educacional no total de alternâncias (FVL, FVF e FVS), agrupamento taxonômicos (FVL e FVS), agrupamento temáticos e cluster semântico total (FVL), clusters fonêmicos e mistos (FVF), tamanho médio de cluster (FVL e FVS) e, finalmente, interseções (FVS). O nível educacional teve efeito maior nas três tarefas de FV.

Variability in neurocognitive performance: Age, gender, and school-related differences in children and from ages 6 to 12.

Cognitive development in children presents peculiarities according to groups of age, gender, and type of school. Few studies have been investigating the effects of all these factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the main effects and the interactions of age, gender, and type of school in 419 children from ages 6 to 12 years old evaluated by the Child Brief Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NEUPSILIN-Inf). Older children, children in private schools and girls presented better results. Interactions between all three independent variables were observed in different cognitive domains. The results highlight both the heterogeneity and the influence of multiple factors in children's neuropsychological development.

Reading Aloud and Child Development: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: Many children in low- and middle-income countries fail to reach their developmental potential. We sought to determine if a parenting program focused on the promotion of reading aloud enhanced parent-child interactions and child development among low-income families in northern Brazil. METHODS: This was a cluster-randomized study of educational child care centers randomly assigned to receive an additional parenting program (intervention) or standard child care without a parenting component (control). Parent-child dyads were enrolled at the beginning of the school year and were assessed at enrollment and at the end of the school year. Families in intervention centers could borrow children's books on a weekly basis and could participate in monthly parent workshops focused on reading aloud. We compared parents and children in intervention and control centers 9 months after the start of the intervention on measures of parent-child interaction and child language, cognitive, and social-emotional development. RESULTS: Five hundred and sixty-six parent-child dyads (279 intervention; 287 control) in 12 child care clusters (26-76 children per cluster) were assessed at enrollment; 464 (86%) contributed follow-up data. Parents in the intervention group engaged in significantly greater cognitive stimulation (Cohen's d = 0.43) and higher quantity and quality of reading interactions (d = 0.52-0.57) than controls; children in the intervention scored significantly higher than controls on receptive vocabulary (d = 0.33), working memory (d = 0.46), and IQ (d = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: An innovative program focused on the promotion of parent-child reading aloud resulted in benefits to parent-child interactions and to child language and cognitive development that were greater than those provided by educational child care alone. This promising approach merits further evaluation at scale.

Effects of age and school type on unconstrained, phonemic, and semantic verbal fluency in children.

Biological and cultural factors have been found to have a significant influence on cognitive development and performance in neuropsychological instruments such as verbal fluency tasks (VFT). Variations of traditional VFT, involving unconstrained word production and increased retrieval times, may provide further data regarding the executive, attentional, mnemonic, and linguistic abilities involved in VFT. As such, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of age and school type on the performance of 6- to 12-year-old children in unconstrained, phonemic, and semantic VFT. The VFT were administered to 460 participants. The effects of age and school type on verbal fluency (VF) performance were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance, followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests (p ≤ .05). A repeated-measures analysis was also used to evaluate VF performance over time (p ≤ .05). Main effects of age and school type were identified on all measures (effect sizes ranged from .05 to .32, p ≤ .05). VF scores increased with age and were higher among private school students. The influence of age on VFT may be associated with the development of executive functions. The impact of type of school on VF performance may be explained by the greater availability of cognitive stimulation (semantic knowledge) provided by private schools and families with better socioeconomic levels.

Relação entre atenção e desempenho em leitura, escrita e aritmética em crianças / Relationship between attention and performance in reading, writing and arithmetic in children / Relación entre atención y desempeño en lectura, escritura y aritmética en niños

Este estudo buscou verificar se há relação entre atenção (seletiva e sustentada visual) e o desempenho escolar (leitura, escrita e aritmética). Foram avaliados 258 estudantes do 1º a 9º ano do ensino fundamental de escolas brasileiras públicas e privadas, com idade média de 10,33 anos (DP=2,52). Os estudantes foram avaliados pelo Teste de Cancelamento do Sinos ­ Versão Infantil (TCS) e pelo Teste de Desempenho Escolar ­ Segunda Edição (TDE-II). Os escores dos testes foram correlacionados pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson, considerando o nível de significância de p≤0,05. Houve correlações significativas positivas de intensidade fraca entre os escores totais do TCS e TDE-II e correlação negativas significativas de intensidade fraca entre os escores de erros e omissões do TCS e escores totais do TDE-II. Foi possível observar relação entre os construtos estudados, porém sugere-se que investigações futuras utilizem diferentes métodos para avaliar outras habilidades relacionadas ao desempenho escolar e processos atencionais. (AU)

This study sought to verify the relationship between attention (selective and sustained visual) and school performance (reading, writing and arithmetic). We evaluated 258 students from the 1st to the 9th year of elementary school in Brazilian public and private schools, with a mean age of 10.33 years (SD=2.52). The students were evaluated by the Bells Test ­ children's version (BT) and by the School Performance Test - second edition (SPT-II). Test scores were correlated by the Pearson correlation coefficient, considering the level of significance of p<0.05. There were significant positive correlations of weak intensity between BT and SPT-II total scores and significant negative correlation of weak intensity between BT errors and omission scores and total SPT-II scores. An observable relationship between the constructs studied exists; however, it is suggested that future investigations use different methods to evaluate other skills related to school performance and attentional processes. (AU)

Este estudio trata de determinar si existe relación entre atención (selectiva y sostenida visual) y desempeño escolar (lectura, escritura y aritmética). Fueron evaluados 258 estudiantes del 1 al 9 año de Enseñanza Primaria de escuelas públicas y privadas de Brasil, con edad media de 10,33 años (DP=2,52). Los estudiantes fueron evaluados utilizando el Test de Cancelamento do Sinos-Versão Infantil (TCS) Test de Cancelamiento de las Campanas Versión Infantil y por el Test de Desempeño Escolar ­ Segunda Edición (TDE-II). Las puntuaciones de los tests fueron correlacionados por el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson, considerando el nivel de significación de p<0,05. Hubo correlaciones positivas significativas de baja intensidad entre los puntajes totales del TCS y TDE-II y correlaciones negativas significativas de baja intensidad entre los puntajes de errores y omisiones del TCS y puntajes totales de TDE-II. Fue posible observar relación entre los constructos estudiados, sin embargo se sugiere que investigaciones futuras utilizen diferentes métodos para evaluar otras habilidades relacionadas con el desempeño escolar y los procesos de atención. (AU)

Development of the Brazilian version of the Child Hayling Test.

INTRODUCTION:: The Hayling Test assesses the components of initiation, inhibition, cognitive flexibility and verbal speed by means of a sentence completion task. This study presents the process of developing the Brazilian version of the Child Hayling Test (CHT) and reports evidence of its content validity. METHODS:: 139 people took part in the study. The adaptation was performed by seven translators and 12 specialist judges. An initial sample of 92 healthy children was recruited to test a selection of sentences adapted from previous adult and pediatric versions of the instrument, and a sample of 28 healthy children was recruited for pilot testing of the final version. The instrument was developed in seven stages: 1) translation, 2) back-translation, 3) comparison of translated versions, 4) preparation of new stimuli, 5) data collection with healthy children to analyze comprehension of the stimuli and analyses by the authors against the psycholinguistic criteria adopted, 6) analyses conducted by judges who are specialists in neuropsychology or linguistics, and 7) the pilot study. RESULTS:: Twenty-four of the 72 sentences constructed were selected on the basis of 70-100% agreement between judges evaluating what they assessed and level of comprehensibility. The pilot study revealed better performance by older children, providing evidence of the instrument's sensitivity to developmental factors. CONCLUSIONS:: Future studies employing this version of CHT with clinical pediatric populations who have frontal lesions and dysfunctions and in related areas are needed to test functional and differential diagnoses of preserved or impaired executive functions.

Development of the Brazilian version of the Child Hayling Test / Desenvolvimento da versão brasileira do Teste Hayling Infantil

Abstract Introduction: The Hayling Test assesses the components of initiation, inhibition, cognitive flexibility and verbal speed by means of a sentence completion task. This study presents the process of developing the Brazilian version of the Child Hayling Test (CHT) and reports evidence of its content validity. Methods: 139 people took part in the study. The adaptation was performed by seven translators and 12 specialist judges. An initial sample of 92 healthy children was recruited to test a selection of sentences adapted from previous adult and pediatric versions of the instrument, and a sample of 28 healthy children was recruited for pilot testing of the final version. The instrument was developed in seven stages: 1) translation, 2) back-translation, 3) comparison of translated versions, 4) preparation of new stimuli, 5) data collection with healthy children to analyze comprehension of the stimuli and analyses by the authors against the psycholinguistic criteria adopted, 6) analyses conducted by judges who are specialists in neuropsychology or linguistics, and 7) the pilot study. Results: Twenty-four of the 72 sentences constructed were selected on the basis of 70-100% agreement between judges evaluating what they assessed and level of comprehensibility. The pilot study revealed better performance by older children, providing evidence of the instrument's sensitivity to developmental factors. Conclusions: Future studies employing this version of CHT with clinical pediatric populations who have frontal lesions and dysfunctions and in related areas are needed to test functional and differential diagnoses of preserved or impaired executive functions.

Resumo Introdução: O Teste Hayling avalia os componentes iniciação, controle inibitório, flexibilidade cognitiva e velocidade verbal por meio de uma tarefa de completar frases. Este estudo apresenta o processo de desenvolvimento do Teste Hayling Infantil (THI) em português brasileiro, bem como evidências de validade de seu conteúdo. Métodos: Participaram 139 sujeitos: A adaptação foi realizada por sete tradutores e 12 juízes especialistas. Uma amostra inicial de 92 crianças saudáveis foi recrutada para testar uma seleção de sentenças adaptadas de versões anteriores para adultos e crianças, e uma amostra de 28 crianças saudáveis foi recrutada para testar a versão final num estudo piloto. Sete etapas foram conduzidas: 1) tradução, 2) retrotradução, 3) comparação entre versões traduzidas, 4) desenvolvimento de novos estímulos, 5) coleta com crianças saudáveis para análise da compreensão dos estímulos e análise dos autores quanto aos critérios psicolinguísticos, 6) análise de juízes especialistas em neuropsicologia e linguística, e 7) estudo piloto. Resultados: Das 72 frases construídas, selecionaram-se 24 que tiveram concordância de 70 a 100% entre juízes quanto aos construtos que avaliam e quanto ao grau de compreensibilidade. O estudo piloto revelou melhor desempenho nas crianças mais velhas, dando indícios da sensibilidade do instrumento aos fatores desenvolvimentais. Conclusões: Estudos futuros que utilizem esta versão do THI em populações clínicas infantis que apresentem lesões e disfunções frontais e em áreas relacionadas tornam-se necessários para fins de diagnóstico funcional e diferencial de dificuldades executivas preservadas ou afetadas.

Características da dislexia de desenvolvimento e sua manifestação na idade adulta / Characteristics of development dyslexia and its manifestation in adulthood

A dislexia do desenvolvimento, diferentemente da dislexia adquirida, pode ser observada desde os primeiros anos escolares. Constitui-se em um transtorno específico nas operações envolvidas no reconhecimento das palavras, afetando a fluência leitora e comprometendo a compreensão da leitura em graus variados. Também estão prejudicadas as habilidades de escrita. Na literatura, há diferentes termos para definir dislexia e ainda hoje se busca um consenso maior a esse respeito. Outra questão importante do quadro é que as pesquisas sobre dislexia têm se detido na investigação do perfil do disléxico em idade escolar, visto que as dificuldades por ela acarretadas impactam substancialmente essa etapa. Sendo assim, pouco se sabe sobre a dislexia em indivíduos adultos, como evoluíram (ou não) suas habilidades de leitura e escrita, suas principais dificuldades nos vários âmbitos da vida e como repercutiram nas suas escolhas profissionais. Portanto, este artigo visa a apresentar algumas definições sobre a dislexia do desenvolvimento, o movimento do corpo científico pelo emprego da palavra transtorno e as características consensuais sobre o tema. Ademais, realiza uma breve revisão de pesquisas que apontam as dificuldades encontradas (nas habilidades de leitura, escrita e consciência fonológica) por adultos disléxicos. Para finalizar, apresenta um estudo de caso, comparando o desempenho em leitura e escrita de um adulto com o diagnóstico e um controle.(AU)

Developmental dyslexia (DD), contrary to acquired dyslexia, can be observed since the first school years. It is a specific disorder in word recognition operations, which affects the reader's fluency and impairers his reading comprehension in various degree. The reader's writing abilities are also affected. In current literature various terms have been used to refer dyslexia. Today we seek a greater consensus in this regard. It is also important to point out that research on dyslexia has been focused on school children profile, due to the fact that it is in this period that difficulties resulting from DD have a greater impact. Consequently, little is known about dyslexia on adult subjects, how their reading and writing abilities evolved (or not), their main living difficulties in many ways, and how the disorder affected their professional choices. This paper presents the main definitions found for DD and how the term "disorder" and its respective characteristics came to be consolidated by scientists. A brief review of research that points the difficulties adult dyslexics have in reading and writing abilities, as well as in phonological awareness is also carried out. To close, a case study. It compares the results obtained in the reading and writing performance of a subject with DD diagnosis and a control subject.(AU)

Características da dislexia de desenvolvimento e sua manifestação na idade adulta / Characteristics of development dyslexia and its manifestation in adulthood

A dislexia do desenvolvimento, diferentemente da dislexia adquirida, pode ser observada desde os primeiros anos escolares. Constitui-se em um transtorno específico nas operações envolvidas no reconhecimento das palavras, afetando a fluência leitora e comprometendo a compreensão da leitura em graus variados. Também estão prejudicadas as habilidades de escrita. Na literatura, há diferentes termos para definir dislexia e ainda hoje se busca um consenso maior a esse respeito. Outra questão importante do quadro é que as pesquisas sobre dislexia têm se detido na investigação do perfil do disléxico em idade escolar, visto que as dificuldades por ela acarretadas impactam substancialmente essa etapa. Sendo assim, pouco se sabe sobre a dislexia em indivíduos adultos, como evoluíram (ou não) suas habilidades de leitura e escrita, suas principais dificuldades nos vários âmbitos da vida e como repercutiram nas suas escolhas profissionais. Portanto, este artigo visa a apresentar algumas definições sobre a dislexia do desenvolvimento, o movimento do corpo científico pelo emprego da palavra transtorno e as características consensuais sobre o tema. Ademais, realiza uma breve revisão de pesquisas que apontam as dificuldades encontradas (nas habilidades de leitura, escrita e consciência fonológica) por adultos disléxicos. Para finalizar, apresenta um estudo de caso, comparando o desempenho em leitura e escrita de um adulto com o diagnóstico e um controle.

Developmental dyslexia (DD), contrary to acquired dyslexia, can be observed since the first school years. It is a specific disorder in word recognition operations, which affects the reader's fluency and impairers his reading comprehension in various degree. The reader's writing abilities are also affected. In current literature various terms have been used to refer dyslexia. Today we seek a greater consensus in this regard. It is also important to point out that research on dyslexia has been focused on school children profile, due to the fact that it is in this period that difficulties resulting from DD have a greater impact. Consequently, little is known about dyslexia on adult subjects, how their reading and writing abilities evolved (or not), their main living difficulties in many ways, and how the disorder affected their professional choices. This paper presents the main definitions found for DD and how the term "disorder" and its respective characteristics came to be consolidated by scientists. A brief review of research that points the difficulties adult dyslexics have in reading and writing abilities, as well as in phonological awareness is also carried out. To close, a case study. It compares the results obtained in the reading and writing performance of a subject with DD diagnosis and a control subject.

Avaliação da linguagem e do processamento auditivo na caracterização neuropsicológica do TDAH: revisão sistemática

O objetivo foi identificar estudos que investigaram o processamento auditivo (PA) e linguístico na avaliação clínica e/ou neuropsicológica de crianças/adolescentes com TDAH. Buscamos em base de dados PubMed de 2000 a 2012 pela sintaxe [language or linguistic] AND [auditory processing or auditory perception] AND [attention deficit orhyperactivity]. Os abstracts foram analisados por double blind review com terceiro juiz para consenso. De 202 resumos, foram analisados 17 artigos completos, com 15 incluídos; 46,67% dos estudos avaliaram a linguagem (palavra e sentença), 33,33%, PA (integração binaural, processamento temporal e figura-fundo auditiva) e 13,33%, ambos. O transtorno de leitura foi a comorbidade mais prevalente (46,67%). Em geral, o desempenho linguístico e de PA não foram analisados para fins neuropsicológicos específicos, mas apenas para identificar comorbidades.(AU)

The aim of this paper was to identify studies that investigated auditory processing (AP) and language along clinical and/or neuropsychological assessment of children/teenagers with ADHD. We searched on PubMed database from 2000 to 2012 by means of the syntax [language or linguistic] AND [auditory processing or auditory perception] AND [attention deficit or hyperactivity]. Abstracts were analyzed by a double blind review with a third expert for a consensus. From 202 abstracts, 17 full texts were analyzed and 15 ones were included; 46.67% of the studies assessed language (word and sentence levels), 33.33% evaluated AP (binaural integration, temporal processing and auditory figure-ground) and 13.33% examined both of them. Reading disorder was the most prevalent comorbidity (46.67%). In general, AP and linguistic performance were not analyzed for specific neuropsychological purposes, but only for comorbidities identification.(AU)

Avaliação da linguagem e do processamento auditivo na caracterização neuropsicológica do TDAH: revisão sistemática / Language and auditory processing in the neuropsychological profile of ADHD: a systematic review

O objetivo foi identificar estudos que investigaram o processamento auditivo (PA) e linguístico na avaliação clínica e/ou neuropsicológica de crianças/adolescentes com TDAH. Buscamos em base de dados PubMed de 2000 a 2012 pela sintaxe [language or linguistic] AND [auditory processing or auditory perception] AND [attention deficit orhyperactivity]. Os abstracts foram analisados por double blind review com terceiro juiz para consenso. De 202 resumos, foram analisados 17 artigos completos, com 15 incluídos; 46,67% dos estudos avaliaram a linguagem (palavra e sentença), 33,33%, PA (integração binaural, processamento temporal e figura-fundo auditiva) e 13,33%, ambos. O transtorno de leitura foi a comorbidade mais prevalente (46,67%). Em geral, o desempenho linguístico e de PA não foram analisados para fins neuropsicológicos específicos, mas apenas para identificar comorbidades.

The aim of this paper was to identify studies that investigated auditory processing (AP) and language along clinical and/or neuropsychological assessment of children/teenagers with ADHD. We searched on PubMed database from 2000 to 2012 by means of the syntax [language or linguistic] AND [auditory processing or auditory perception] AND [attention deficit or hyperactivity]. Abstracts were analyzed by a double blind review with a third expert for a consensus. From 202 abstracts, 17 full texts were analyzed and 15 ones were included; 46.67% of the studies assessed language (word and sentence levels), 33.33% evaluated AP (binaural integration, temporal processing and auditory figure-ground) and 13.33% examined both of them. Reading disorder was the most prevalent comorbidity (46.67%). In general, AP and linguistic performance were not analyzed for specific neuropsychological purposes, but only for comorbidities identification.

Componentes atencionais e de funções executivas em meninos com TDAH: dados de uma bateria neuropsicológica flexível / Attentional components and executive functions in children with ADHD: data of a flexible neuropsychological battery

OBJETIVO: Comparar o desempenho de sete meninos com diagnóstico comprovado de TDAH (G1) e 14 controles saudáveis (G2) em tarefas neuropsicológicas. MÉTODO: G1 e G2 foram pareados por sexo, idade e escolaridade em tarefas atencionais e executivas (Fluência Verbal e Discurso Narrativo da Bateria MAC, Teste de Cancelamento dos Sinos - versão infantil, Geração Aleatória de Números, Go-no Go do NEUPSILIN-Inf e N-Back auditivo). RESULTADOS: Destacaram-se diferenças entre os grupos quanto à atenção concentrada seletiva, à memória de trabalho, ao automonitoramento, à iniciação e à inibição. CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível verificar contribuições incipientes para um raciocínio de relações intercomponentes das FE e atencionais em pacientes com TDAH.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of seven boys with a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD (G1) and 14 healthy controls (G2) in neuropsychological tasks. METHOD: G1 and G2 were matched by gender, age and educational level. They were assessed through attentional and executive tasks (verbal fluency and narrative discourse from MAC Battery, Bells Test - children's version, Number Random Generation, Go-no Go and auditory N-Back). RESULTS: There were remarkable differences between groups for sustained focused attention, working memory, self-monitoring, initiation and inhibition. CONCLUSION: Contributions for incipient comprehension of relationships among cognitive components in ADHD patients could be identified.

Tomada de decisão em dependentes de crack: um estudo com o Iowa Gambling Task / Decision making in addiction to crack: a study with the Iowa Gambling Task

Este estudo investigou como ocorre o processo de tomada de decisão em dependentes de crack pelo instrumento Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Foram selecionados 30 participantes para o grupo de dependentes de crack - GDC, e 15 controles não usuários - GNU, de ambos os sexos. Para avaliar a intensidade de craving utilizou-se o Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief. Houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos tanto no cálculo total, como no cálculo por blocos. A curva de aprendizagem do GDCmanteve-se constante e negativa na maior parte do jogo, havendo apenas no final um indício de aprendizagem. Em relação à classificação do desempenho na tarefa, as análises evidenciaram que um significativo número de participantes controles obtiveram desempenho não-prejudicado, oposto ao desempenho do GDC. As diferenças entre os grupos investigadas no IGT corroboraram com achado de estudo anterior, que evidenciou prejuízo no processo de tomada de decisão associado à dependência de cocaína e de crack.(AU)

This study investigated how decision-making process occurs in crack dependents through the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). 30 participants were selected to crack dependent group - GDC, and 15 non-users controls - GNU, from both sexes. We used the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief to assess the craving intensity. There were significant differences between groups both in the total-calculus score and in the blocks scores. The learning curve of the GDC was constant and negative during almost all game, except in the very ending when a suggestion of learning was observed. Regarding the task performance's classification, the analysis showed that a significant number of controls participants achieved a non-impaired performance, opposed to GDC performance. The differences between groups investigated in the IGT corroborate with a previous study finding, about a worse decision-making process associated with cocaine and crack addiction.(AU)

Tomada de decisão em dependentes de crack: um estudo com o Iowa Gambling Task / Decision making in addiction to crack: a study with the Iowa Gambling Task

Este estudo investigou como ocorre o processo de tomada de decisão em dependentes de crack pelo instrumento Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Foram selecionados 30 participantes para o grupo de dependentes de crack - GDC, e 15 controles não usuários - GNU, de ambos os sexos. Para avaliar a intensidade de craving utilizou-se o Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief. Houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos tanto no cálculo total, como no cálculo por blocos. A curva de aprendizagem do GDCmanteve-se constante e negativa na maior parte do jogo, havendo apenas no final um indício de aprendizagem. Em relação à classificação do desempenho na tarefa, as análises evidenciaram que um significativo número de participantes controles obtiveram desempenho não-prejudicado, oposto ao desempenho do GDC. As diferenças entre os grupos investigadas no IGT corroboraram com achado de estudo anterior, que evidenciou prejuízo no processo de tomada de decisão associado à dependência de cocaína e de crack.

This study investigated how decision-making process occurs in crack dependents through the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). 30 participants were selected to crack dependent group - GDC, and 15 non-users controls - GNU, from both sexes. We used the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief to assess the craving intensity. There were significant differences between groups both in the total-calculus score and in the blocks scores. The learning curve of the GDC was constant and negative during almost all game, except in the very ending when a suggestion of learning was observed. Regarding the task performance's classification, the analysis showed that a significant number of controls participants achieved a non-impaired performance, opposed to GDC performance. The differences between groups investigated in the IGT corroborate with a previous study finding, about a worse decision-making process associated with cocaine and crack addiction.